Lazarus, the original anime produced by Mappa and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, known for creating the iconic series Cowboy Bebop, will finally premiere in Japan this April.
Fans of this highly anticipated action sci-fi show may be curious to learn more about Lazarus. So, keep reading to discover everything we know about it!
Lazarus Reveals New Teaser Visual and Release Date
A new teaser visual for Lazarus was released on Friday, January 24, featuring five characters, with the entire image predominantly in blue-violet. It was also announced that the anime will premiere in April 2025.
Most anime fans first heard about Lazarus in July 2023 when Adult Swim greenlit it and revealed it as a new Toonami series, promising thrilling action scenes with Chad Stahelski, director of John Wick, heavily involved in the fight sequences.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting the series, especially with Shinichiro Watanabe, renowned for creating hit titles like Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and Terror in Resonance, as the show’s director.
Lazarus teased an exciting preview in 2024, showcasing a futuristic world and introducing the agents, or main cast, seen in the recent teaser image.
The show, consisting of 13 episodes, will first air on TV Tokyo in April. It’s also scheduled to premiere in Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block, though the exact date for its U.S. release remains unconfirmed.
In addition to the director and action director, fans can expect top-tier animation, as Lazarus is being produced by Mappa (known for Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Attack on Titan) and Sola Entertainment.
Given Watanabe’s reputation for creating anime with unforgettable soundtracks, Lazarus will likely feature music that perfectly complements the tone of each scene. Its opening theme, “Vortex,” is performed by jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, with Floating Points and Bonobo, while the ending song, “Lazarus,” is by the rock band The Boo Radleys.
Finally, the voice cast for Lazarus includes Mamoru Miyano (Death Note) as Axel, Makoto Furukawa (Kaguya-sama: Love is War) as Doug, Maaya Uchida (Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions) as Chris, Yuma Uchida (Jujutsu Kaisen) as Leland, Manaka Iwami (Oshi No Ko, Fruits Basket) as Eleina, and Koichi Yamadera (Cowboy Bebop) as Dr. Skinner.
What is Lazarus About?
The Lazarus anime follows five agents tasked with saving the world from Dr. Skinner, a neuroscientist who gained fame for developing Hapuna, a cure-all drug with no side effects.
Hapuna quickly became one of the most significant inventions of all time and became widely prevalent. Yet, the mystery deepens as the scientist who created it mysteriously disappeared when the drug began to take over the world.
However, three years later, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist returns to reveal that the miracle drug was never miraculous at all… Those who took it will eventually die, unveiling his evil plan to wipe out humanity.
The premise of Lazarus has proven to be quite promising, and with such a talented staff behind it, fans are eagerly awaiting its release this April.
Are you excited for Lazarus? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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